Beads on a string

Its come down to
Beads on a string
Where I am a worker
No longer a woman
Who believes he hits me
Because he loves me

And in moments
Best reserved
For the insane
Sometimes I miss it 
That place where
I thought I belonged

But I would rather
String beads and
Remain untouched
Than live with the
Deafening silence
That resounds

When skin
Splits open
And blood
Flows freely
From being touched
Much too hard

Id rather have
Beads on a string
Than beatings

(Written for 'Shakthi: A Celebration of Femininity,' a fundraiser for Emerge Lanka Foundation to spread awareness about sexual assault/abuse through artistic avenues. See http://emergeglobal.org/ or emergeglobal.org/emerge-lanka-foundation/)